Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 42:12
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
12. The exact doubling of Job’s former possessions shews that we are not reading literal history here.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job – To wit, by giving him double what he had possessed before his calamities came upon him; see Job 42:10.
For he had fourteen thousand sheep … – The possessions which are here enumerated are in each instance just twice as much as he possessed in the early part of his life. In regard to their value, and the rank in society which they indicated, see the notes at Job 1:3. The only thing which is omitted here, and which it is not said was doubled, was his household, or husbandry (Job 1:3, margin), but it is evident that this must have been increased in a corresponding manner to have enabled him to keep and maintain such flocks and herds. We are not to suppose that these were granted to him at once, but as he lived an hundred and forty years after his afflictions, he had ample time to accumulate this property.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Job 42:12-17
So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job.
The limitation of Jobs blessings to this life
Is there not something incongruous in the large award of temporal good, and even something unnecessary in the renewed honour among men? To us it seems that a good man will be satisfied with the favour and fellowship of a loving God. Yet, assuming that the conclusion is a part of the history on which the poem was founded, we can justify the blaze of splendour that bursts on Job after sorrow, instruction, and reconciliation. Life only can reward life. That great principle was rudely shadowed forth in the old belief that God protects His servants even to a green old age. Job had lived strongly, alike in mundane and moral region. How is he to find continued life? The authors power could not pass the limits of the natural to promise a reward. Net yet was it possible, even for a great thinker, to affirm that continued fellowship with Eloah, that continued intellectual and spiritual energy that we call eternal life. A vision of it had come to him; he had seen the day of the Lord afar off, but dimly, by moments. To carry a life into it was beyond his power. Sheol made nothing perfect; and beyond Sheol no prophet eye had ever travelled. There was nothing for it then, but to use the history as it stood, adding symbolic touches, and show the restored life in development on earth, more powerful than ever, more esteemed, more richly endowed for good action. Priestly office and power are given to Job. Wider opportunities for service, more cordial esteem and affection, the highest office that man can bear, these are the reward of Job. And with the terms of the symbolism we shall not quarrel who have heard the Lord say, Well done, thou good servant; because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. (R. A. Watson.)
Light at eventide
Have not some of us had experience in the glorious Alps, when, on nearly reaching the top, we have been surrounded by clouds, mist filled the air, the tempest hurtled around us, and we sat down utterly disappointed in our hope of a glorious view, and ready to wail with despair at a lost day, a lost prospect, a lost joy? But by and by a strong wind swept the heavens and revealed the beauty of the skies! There stood the white throne of the Monta Rosa and yonder the magnificent Matterhorn, and as the evening sun bathed it in rosy glory we have stood lost in admiration. At evening time it was light. Have not you and I had experiences in the past like that? Ah! we have, and realised the blessed hope. We cannot give up in despair, even in times of trial. Many are the experiences of this kind in the history of Gods people. Look at poor old Jacob, bewailing the fate of his dead: All these things are against me; I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Wait a minute! The caravan is coming! Glorious news! His sons returning, bringing full sacks of corn to Jacob and his family. At evening time to the old man it is light–it is light! (T. L. Cuyler, D. D.)
Alls well that ends well
The Book of Job is sometimes called a key to the Bible. Certain it is that it explains one of the deep moral problems that has vexed mankind, as well as it did the patriarch and his friends.
1. Job discerns the nature of afflictions, and repents of his sin and folly.
2. His character is vindicated before his friends.
3. His former dignity and honour are restored.
4. His former prosperity is doubled.
(1) It is generally believed that he lived, after these afflictions, twice his former age.
(2) His property was doubled.
(3) His offspring became as numerous as before.
We have here an indication of immortality. His former children were not lost, though dead. He was doubly enriched; for he had not now as many on earth as in heaven. Reflections–
1. All earthly troubles must, sooner or later, have an end, even as cycles of time.
2. The success of a life is to be judged from its ending–e.g., Solon and Croesus.
3. The afflictions of the righteous are not penal, but corrective and sanctifying.
4. If this year ends well morally for us each–no matter how it may be otherwise–we should be devoutly thankful, and press onward till we reach that final ending which shall sum up a whole lifetime. (Lewis O. Thompson.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 12. The Lord blessed the latter end of Job] Was it not in consequence of his friends bringing him a lamb, sheep, or other kind of cattle, and the quantity of gold mentioned, that his stock of sheep was increased so speedily to 14,000, his camels to 6000, his oxen to 2000, and his she-asses to 1000?
Mr. Heath takes the story of the conduct of Job’s friends by the worst handle; see Job 42:11. Is it not likely that they themselves were the cause of his sudden accumulation of property? and that they did not visit him, nor seek his familiarity because he was now prosperous; but because they saw that God had turned his captivity, and miraculously healed him? This gave them full proof of his innocence, and they no longer considered him an anathema, or devoted person, whom they should avoid and detest, but one who had been suffering under a strange dispensation of Divine Providence, and who was now no longer a suspicious character, but a favourite of heaven, to whom they should show every possible kindness. They therefore joined hands with God to make the poor man live and their presents were the cause, under God of his restoration to affluence. This takes the subject by the other handle; and I think, as far as the text is concerned, by the right one.
He had fourteen thousand sheep] The reader, by referring to Job 1:3, will perceive that the whole of Job’s property was exactly doubled.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Lord blessed Job, not only with spiritual, but also with temporal and earthly blessings.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. Probably by degrees, not allat once.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning,…. Which verified the words of Bildad, Job 8:6; though they were spoken by him only by way of supposition. All blessings are of the Lord, temporal and spiritual; and sometimes the last days of a good man are his best, as to temporal things, as were David’s, and here Job’s; though this is not always the case: however, if their last days are but the best in spiritual things, that is enough: if they have more faith, hope, love, patience, humility, and self-denial, and resignation of will to the will of God; are more holy, humble, spiritually and heavenly minded; have more light and knowledge in divine things; have more peace and joy, and are more fruitful in every good work, and more useful; and often they are in their very last moments most cheerful and comfortable: the best wine is reserved till last;
for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses: just double the number of each of what he had before, Job 1:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The author now describes the manner of Job’s being blessed.
12 And Jehovah blessed Job’s end more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand she-asses.
The numbers of the stock of cattle, Job 1:3,
(Note: Job, like all the wealthier husbandmen in the present day, kept she-asses, although they are three times dearer than the male, because they are useful for their foals; it is not for the sake of their milk, for the Semites do not milk asses and horses. Moreover, the foals are also only a collateral gain, which the poor husbandman, who is only able to buy a he-ass, must forego. What renders this animal indispensable in husbandry is, that it is the common and (since camels are extremely rare among the husbandmen) almost exclusive means of transport. How would the husbandman, e.g., be able to carry his seed for sowing to a field perhaps six or eight miles distant? Not on the plough, as our farmers do, for the plough is transported on the back of the oxen in Syria. How would he be able to get the corn that was to be ground ( tachne ) to the mill, perhaps a day’s journey distant; how carry wood and grass, how get the manure upon the field in districts that require to be manured, if he had not an ass? The camels, on the other hand, serve for harvesting ( ragad ), and the transport of grain ( ghalle ), chopped straw ( tibn ), fuel ( hatab ), and the like, to the large inland towns, and to the seaports. Those village communities that do not possess camels for this purpose, hire them of the Arabs (nomads). – Wetzst.)
now appear doubled, but it is different with the children.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(12) Fourteen thousand sheep.The number of Jobs cattle here is exactly the double of those in Job. 1:3. That Jobs latter end should be blessed had been the promise of all his friends (Job. 5:24, &c., Job. 8:7-20, &c., Job. 11:16, &c., 22:27, &c.), but then it was hampered with a condition which involved the falsehood of all Jobs previous life, and it was the unjust imputation of this falsehood to Job which was an offence against the truth of God, and Was so regarded by Him. Truth had to be violated in order that Gods justice might stand, which was the greatest possible offence and indignity to the Divine justice.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
THE END OF JOB MORE BLESSED THAN THE BEGINNING. Job 42:12-17.
12. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job The exact doubling of Job’s flocks and herds comes within the domain of the miraculous; its object, to show to all ages that the return of Job to prosperity was not a mere stroke of fortune, but the unmistakable result of divine interposition. “The visible evidence of God’s mercy in Job’s case was a pledge of God’s unseen love to all who endure; and it was vouchsafed to Job as such. Besides, Satan had so contrived Job’s afflictions by an extraordinary coincidence of events, (which God permitted him to execute, chaps. 1 and 2,) that it might seem to Job’s friends and to the world that Job was stricken of God as a sinner, and that he might be accused (as he was by his friends) as guilty in God’s sight.” Wordsworth.
Sheep camels oxen and she asses See note on chap. Job 1:3.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
Ver. 12. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job ] According to Bildad’s prophecy, Job 8:7 , and St James’s useful observation, Jas 5:11 , “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” If he afflict any of his, it is in very faithfulness, that he may be true to their souls; it is also in great mercy, that he may do them good in the latter end, Deu 8:16 ; and this they themselves also shall both see and say by that time he hath brought both ends together, Psa 119:71 . Be ye therefore patient, stablish your hearts, Jas 5:8 . Patient Job had all doubled to him. Joseph as a slave became his master’s master. Valentinian lost his tribuneship for Christ, but was afterwards made emperor. Queen Elizabeth from a prisoner became a great princess. But if God deny his suffering servants temporals, and give them in spirituals, they have no cause to complain; one way or other they shall be sure to have it. Great is the gain of godliness.
For he had fourteen thousand sheep, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6), in verses: Job 42:12-15, to emphasize each particular thing.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Job 42:12
Job 42:12
“So Jehovah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: and he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.”
A check with the prologue will indicate that all of these endowments are exactly twice what Job at first possessed.
E.M. Zerr:
Job 42:12. See my comments at Job 42:10.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
So: Job 8:7, Deu 8:16, Pro 10:22, Ecc 7:8, 1Ti 6:17, Jam 5:11
he had: Job 1:3, Gen 24:35, Gen 26:12-14, Psa 107:38, Psa 144:13-15
Reciprocal: Gen 1:22 – General Gen 1:28 – General Gen 12:16 – he had Gen 26:14 – had possession Gen 32:14 – General Deu 7:13 – he will also Deu 24:19 – may bless 1Sa 25:2 – three thousand 2Ki 3:4 – a sheepmaster 2Ch 17:5 – he had riches 2Ch 32:29 – possessions Job 1:10 – thou hast blessed Job 36:7 – with Job 36:11 – spend Psa 34:19 – Many Psa 37:37 – General Psa 127:5 – Happy Pro 2:21 – General Ecc 2:7 – also
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 42:12. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job Not only with spiritual, but also with temporal blessings. For he had fourteen thousand sheep, &c. Just double to what they were, Job 1:3. This is a remarkable instance of the extent of the divine providence to things that seem minute as this, the exact number of a mans cattle: as also of the harmony of providence, and the reference of one event to another: for known unto God are all his works, from the beginning to the end.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had {l} fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
(l) God made him twice as rich in cattle as he was before, and gave him as many children as he had taken from him.